Filing system



May 29, 1928. 1,671,726

A. N. KILMARTIN ET AL FILING SYSTEM Filed Oct. 18, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aar 6 Abbofl 7 Patented May 29, 1928.

; UNITED STATES PATENT o Fie Aarrns-1r.1r1ravmaau1-r AND RENA nuonnunniorwasnInMoN, mum on amma sys'rl ra Applicatioa flled when, 1926. Serial no. 142,4;2.

This invention relates to improvements in filing-systems, and more particularly to what maybe termed a three-stagger "guide for a straight alphabetical file.

The object of this invention is to provide a system of filing for use in condensed form for small capacity, or that may be enlarged into one of very greatly increased capacity,

without increased complication.

A further object being to provide a system thatmay be increased in capacity as required, and one in whichthe increase may be made when requiredand.thereby avoid all unnecessary or superfluous guides to the time that they are needed.

Another object being to provide a system that may be useful infiling numerous forms of data. I v

Similar numerals indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevation perspective of a portion of a file case, showing a few of the improved guide cards. i

Fig. 2 is an elevation of one of the first stagger guide cards.

Figs. 3 and 4 are similar views of a second and third stagger guide card, respectively.

Referring now to the drawings it will be seen that the improved filing system is shown as an alphabetical personnel file and consists of a three-stagger guide systemwherein each guide card 5 is provided with a tab 6,7 or 8 in the first, second or third positions respectively on the upper left edge of the guide card.

On the stagger-one card, tab 6, is placed the first letters of the surname. The stagger-two, tab 7, shows the famil group names. The stagger-three, tab 8, indicates the subdivisions of the second, or family groups into alphabetically arranged given names.

stagger-one, or tabs 6, are a general guide to the alphabetical arrangement of the surnames, up to where a surname that is recognized as a family group is encountered, such as Smith, Jones, Johnson or the like. In the above instances the stagger-two, or tabs 7 would show Smith, Jones. or John son and stagger-three or tabs 8, would show the alphabetical arrangement of the given names of those. having the surnames appearing as a family group on staggertwo cards, such as Ben, Carry, or Charles prioron stagger-one and stagger-two Smith, or Bell, Curtis, or Susan Jones, etc.

For purposes of illustration, the drawings show the application of the filing systeirithus described to personnel as listed for instance in a telephone directory, wherein the first stagger-one guide, tab ,6, shows Aar, and the second shows Abbe.

The above stagger-one guide cards represent all surnames up to, for instance, Abbott which will be found. on a staggertwo guide card, therebeing usually, a relatively large number having said surname.

If the surname Abbott warrants it numerically, more or less stagger-three guide cardsmay be used toindicate the al habetical arrangement of the the Abbotts.

The numberofguide cards is determined by the volume of papersto be filed.

If the file is small it may be necessary to haveonly a few stagger-two cards, and then only a few stagger-three guides, under said few stagger-two guides, and should the file be large, the division of the surnames into family groups may be increased and also the given names ound in number of divisions of the family groups appearing in the sta ger-three guides may be increased to meet 1; e requirements. The enlargement may be accomplished originally or after the system has been started.

It may be preferable to have the lettering ide cards difl'erent in color from that on t e staggerthree guides, to clearl differentiate between the guides carrying t e surnames and those indicating given names.

As shown and described this s stem is applied topersonnel filing, it may however, be applied to geographical filing. For instance, if a file of manufacturers of a given article, divided into states, is desired, the stagger-one guides may carry the small state names, the stagger-two guides, the large state names, and the stagger-three guides may indicate the alphabetical arrangement of the firm names.

Again this system is applicable to keeping certain records of a State, by cities for instance, the names of cities being represented .on stagger-one guides, except large cities which would be indicated on staggertwo guides, and stagger-three guides indicate Ehgd alphabetical arrangement of the data Briefly, the first stagger represents a genstarted with stagger-one cards; as the volume of data requires it, family groups may be expeditiously segregated and stagger-two guides added. After the first enlargement into certain family groups, additional family groups or stagger-two cards may be added at any time without difiicult and without disturbing the continuity of t e system prior to the enlargement. In the same way stagger-three cards ma be multiplied by a further subdivision 0 the stagger-two data.

Having full described our invention what ,we claim and esire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A filing system comprising groups of guide cards having staggered tabs on which are markings re resenting basic divisions, and prominent divisions of the basic divisions in one color, and subdivisions of said groups in another color.

2. A three-stagger filing system comprising groups of guide cards, olie'group having tabs arranged adjacent to the upper left corner of the card on which the basic divisions are indicated in one color, another oup having tabs located out of line but ad acent to the tabs of the first-named group on which rominent divisions of the first group are in icated in the same color as the first group, and a third group having tabs located out of line but ad acent to the tabs of the first and second-11am groups on which subdivisions of the prominent divisions are indicated in a color different from the first and second groups. a

3. A three-stagger personnel filing system comprising a group'of guide cards having tabs extending from the left corner of the card on which basic divisions of surnames are arranged alphabetically, a group of guide cards having tabs adjacent to and out of line with the tabs above referred to, on which family grou s are indicated and a group of guide ca s having tabs adjacent to and out of line with the tabs above referred to, on which ar indicated an alphabetical arrangement ofithe first given name of the adjacent family group.

AGNES n. KILMARTIN. RENA B. MoRELAnn 

